The research will position Québec as a leader in international efforts to build capacity in the traceability of high value timber. The end-user, Natural Resources Canada, already engages and partners with tree breeders, nurseries, forest management, sawmills, private landowners, and Indigenous communities, and thus supports the Québec forest industry to produce certified and traceable wood products. There is currently a rising demand for oaks in Québec, and with oak being more drought-resilient, this could in the long run help mitigate anticipated future drought-related wood loss and impacts of climate change. Oaks are also recognised as good replacement solutions for dying ash in urban forest management strategies.
Furthermore, Canada has committed to nature-based climate solutions by planting an additional two billion trees within the next 10 years to increase carbon sequestration, mitigate climate change and provide ecosystem services. However, those trees must be resilient to disease, pests, drought, and be genetically diverse. The most widely planted native oaks (Bur and Northern Red Oaks) in Québec have great potential to increase land value and contribute to forest resilience. The proposed research will generate scientifically sound oak wood certification protocols, which will bring end-users including the Québec-based Canadian Forest Service at the forefront of forest certification and sustainable forest management.
Genome Centre: Génome Québec
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| Nathalie | Isabel | Laurentian Forestry Centre |